Engine starter control



May 21,1940; K. F. DOUGLAS 2,201 ,s93

ENGINE STARTER CONTROL Filed Feb. 1, 1939 wi l mmmml l m a INVENTOR.fwd/1,0513: Jnnezfh, Z .[0 {as (/ATYURNEY.

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Patented May '21, 1940 j UNITED STAT S aromas gnome sma'rsn commonKenneth F. Douglas,

Elmira, N/ Y assignor to Bendix 'AviationGorporation, South Bend, hit, acorporation of Delaware Application February 1, 1939, Serial ,No;254,089"

1 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an engine starter control and more'particularly to a 'twostage starting system in, which the startergearing is engaged by.partial energization of; the

starting. motor, after which the motor is fully energized for crankingpurposes.

ilt is an object of the present invention to provide a novel two-stagestarting system incorporating adevice iorjinterposing a time delaybetween the initial actuation of the starting motor and the fullenergization thereof.

It is another object to provide such a device in which the initialenergi'zation 'ot the motor is controlled by a starting switch and aresistor, and the full energization of the-motoriis controlled by asecond switchwhich bridges the It is another object provide such adevice in which the time delay is arranged to prevent closure 01 thesecond switch until a predetermined time after closure or the startingswitch,-

Another object is to provide such a device in which the time delaymechanism is actuated by the closure of the starting switch.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent irom the followingdescription taken in. connection with the accompanying drawing in which:1 t

Fig. l is a'semi-diagrammatic illustration of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention; and

Fig. 2 is a similar illustration oia second embodiment thereof.

In Fig. l of the drawing there is illustrated a starting systemcomprising a battery I grounded at 2 and ected'by'leads .land 4 to amagnetic start-ingswitch indicated generally by numerale-compnsing fixedcontacts (and I and a movable contact I mounted on a magnetic plunger9.. Contact I of'the starting switch is connected by .a lead ,lli to aresistor R which in turn isconnected by a lead It to a starting motor SMwhichis grounded at l2to complete the starting circuit. It willbfunderstood that; the motor is arranged-to actuate a starter gear ofconventional type to engage and crank a member of the engine to bestarted, but since these elements amp: the usual construction-it isdeemed unnecm to further illustrate them.

A control circuit'u'or the magnetic starting switch 5 is providedcomprising a manual switch ll connected by a lead it to, the batterylead 3 and by a lead I! to a solenoid I 6 which is drranged whenenergized. to attract the plunger L V mounted ontha end of the armature23 in posi- O to cause closure of the starting switch. Solenoid ll isconnected by a lead llto the starting "motor switch closes.

lead whereby the control circuit is completed through the starting motorand the ground l2.

Means for providing a bridging circuit around the resistor R andstarting switch 5 is provided comprising a-lead I8 which connects thebattery lead Sto a magnetic bridging switch indicated generally bynumeral l9. Switch l9 comprises a ilxed'contact 2| connected to lead l8and a' movable contact 22 mounted on an armature 23 pivoted at .24 andconnected bya lead 25 to the starting motor. 1 7 It A control circuitfor the magnetic bridging switch, I! is provided comprisinga contact 26mounted on a spring 21 and arranged to be engaged by the movable contact8' oithe starting switch upon closure of the starting switch. Contactspring 21 is anchored at 28 and connected by a lead 29 to a ilaifispringmember '3l.' Spring member it carries a movable contact 32 arranged toengase'f'afixed contact 38 which is connected by a lead 3! to anelectromagnet 35 arranged "when energized to attract the armature 23 ctthe bridging switch I; to cause closure of said switch. Electromagnet 35is connected by a lead 38 to a thermostatic conducting element 31ahchored at 38 and having at its free. end acontact 30. Contact 39 isarranged normally. to.

engage a fixed contact II which is connected by a'lead 42 to a generatorG driven by the engine to be started, whereby self-operation oi theengine causes the generator to oppose the voltage or thebattery Ithrough the control circuit tor the bridging switch I, thus causingdeenergization of the control circuit and opening 01' the bridgingswitch. Contacts 32 and a means are provided for setting the contact 32in vibration when the starting iiwitch is closed to 1 spring itpositioned adjacent an'enlargement II on the end of the magnetic plungerI of the starting switch, the inclined sides of which enlargement arearranged to engage the weight 48 and set it, in vibration whenthestarting Means for. closed irrespective otopening oi the startingswitch B- is provided comprising a contact holding the. bridging switchis oi the control circuit-to; the bridging switch are normally-closed,but

tion to engage a fixed contact I! which is connected by a lead 41 to thelead it for the elec tromagnet l5.

Means for causing deenergization of the control circuit for bridgingswitch I9 after a predetermined time of cranking is provided comprisinga heating coil R for the thermostatic element 31, which heating coil isconnected by a lead 49 to thebridging switch member 23 and w a lead to aground connection 52. In the operation of this embodiment of thinvention, closure of the manual switch I! completes the control circuitfor the starting switch 5 from battery I through leads 3. and H, switchl3, lead liysolenoid it, .lead I! and starting motor SM to the ground atl2. Solenoid I6 is thereby energized and attracts the plunger 9,

causing closure of the starting switch 5. Closure of switch 5 completesthe starting circuit from battery I through leads 3 and 4; contacts 6, 8

and I, lead I, resistor .R, lead Ii and starting motor SM to the groundat i2. The starting motor is thereby energized from the battery. with avoltage suitably reduced by the resistor R to cause engagementof thestarting gearing without damage thereto. V

Closure of the starting switch also connects the contact 26 to thebattery i by engagement with the movable contact 8 of the startingswitch. At the instant of closure, however, contact 32 is set invibration by virtue of its mounting on the pendulous member 3|, the bob4 3 ofwhich has been set.irr motion by-the enlargement M on the end ofthe plunger 9. After a predetermined time of vibration, contact 32 comesto rest against contact 33 whereupon thecontrol circuitforthe bridgingswitch I! is completed from the contact 26 through spring'fl, lead 29,spring 3|, conit for the cranking operation.

Closure of said'bridging circuit causes deenerg ization of the solenoidii of the starting switch whereby the starting switch opens. The bridgeing switch I! is-maintained closed however, by'

the holding circuit comprising contacts 45, l and lead 41 sothatcrankingcontinues. When the engine starts, electromagnet 35 of. the bridgingswitch is deenergized by-the generator G which is connected to opposethe flow of current fom the battery through said electromagnet,-wherebythe various elements .of the starter control return to their originalpositions. If theengine should fail to start after a predetermined timeof cranking, thermostatic contacts 39, 4f will open, thus deenergizingthe electromagnet 35 and interrupting the cranking operation.

In the embodiment'of the invention illustrated -in Fig. 2, thestarting'-circuit, the bridging circuit and the control cii'cuit'for thebridging starting. switch areprovided.

As here shown, me closing mm 1dr switch comprises a plunger-14 slidablymounted within a solenoid ll in position to enage the end of the plunger9 01' the starting switch and cause closure of the switch uponenergization of solenoid 55. A control circuit for solenoid 55 isprovided comprising a lead I connecting the battery lead 3 to a manualswitch 51. Switch 51 is connected by lead to solenoid 55, the oppositeend of which solenoid is ground at 59 to complete its control circuit.

- Means for holding the starting switch 5 closed is provided in the formof a solenoid ,il connected by a lead 62 to the starting circuit lead IIand by a lead 63 to the starting circuit lead I I on the opposite sideof the resistor R.

Means are provided for setting in vibration the 'pendulous contactcarrying spring II of the control circuit for ,the bridging switch I! inthe form of a lever 64 pivoted at 65 and provided at its free end with aroller 66 arranged to engage the bob 43 of the vibrator. Lever 64 hasfixed thereon a laterally extending pin 61 positioned to engage a collar68 fixed on plunger 54 whereby downward motion of plunger 54 swings thelever 64 down into engagement with the vibrator, causing'contacts 32, 33to be held open as long as the plunger 54 remains in its lower position.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, closure of themanual switch 51 completes the control circuit for the solenoid 55whereby plunger 54 is caused to move down and engage the plunger 8 ofthe starting switch, thus closing the starting switch. The startingcircuit through the resistor R; is thus completed 'to energize the motorto cause engagement of the starter "gearing as previously described. Theholding coil SI of the starting switch is also energized by the voltagedrop through the resistor}! whereby the starting switch is held closedirrespective of deenergization of the closing means therefor.

Closure of the startingswitch connects the contact 2 to the battery, butthecontr'ol circuit -for the bridging switch I! is not completed sinceat thistime contacts 32, 33 are held open by the actionof the lever 64.When the operator opens the manual switch I1, deenergizing the closingmeans for the starting switch; the parts thereof return to their idlepomtions and the lever 64 releases the vibrator time delay whereby aftera predetermined period of vibration, contacts 32, II close, thuscompleting the control circuit for the bridging switch I. and causingclosure thereof.v The full battery voltage is thusapplied to thestarting motor for cranking purposes, The holding coil II of thestarting switch is deenergiaed by the closure of the bridging switch,but the bridgingswitch is held closed by virtue of the connection -41from holding contacts ll, 46 which maintains the electromagnet 35energized until the control circuit therefor is deenergized' either bythegenerator G responsive to self-operation of the engine or by thethermostat 31 after a predetermined time of cranking as herein above setforth Although but two forms of the invention have.

been shown and described in detail, it will be understoodthat otherembodiments'are possible and various changes-may be made in the designand arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention as deilned in the claims appended hereto. What is claimed is:

1.In an enginestarter control, a starting circuit including a battery,-astarting motorfa starting switch and; resistor, means including 75.

a switch providing a bridge circuit around the resistor, and meanswhereby closure of the starting switch causes closure of the bridgingswitch, said closing means including a pair of contacts and meansactuated by closure of the startingswitch for vibrating said contacts apredetermined time before'eflective closure thereof.

. 2. In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including abattery, a starting motor, a starting switch and a resistor, meansincluding a magnetic switch providing a bridge circuit around theresistor, and means whereby closure or the starting switch causesclosure of the bridging switch, said closing means comprising a controlcircuit for the bridging switch including a fixed contact and apendulously mounted contact, and means actuated by closure of thestarting switch for closing the control circuit, said last means beingarranged to set the pendulously mounted contactin vibration to delayeflective closure of the control circuit for a predetermined time.

,3. In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including' abattery, a starting. motor, a

' starting'switch and a. resistor for reducing the initial flow ofcurrent through said starting switch to the starting motor, meansinclmiing a.

magnetic switch for short-circuiti'ng the resistor,

a control circuit for the magnetic switch including a pair of normallyclosed contacts, one of which is pendulously mounted, and manuallycontrollable means for closing the starting switch and setting thependulously mounted contact in vibration to delay eflective closure orthe control circuit for a predetermined time.

4. In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including a battery,a starting motor, a starting switch and a resistor for reducing theinitial flow oi current through said starting switch to the startingmotor, means including a' magnetic switch for short-circuiting theresistor, a control circuit for the magnetic switch including a pair ofcontacts closed by closure of the starting switch, a pair of normallyclosed contacts in series therewith, one of which is pendulouslymounted, manually controllable means for closing the starting switch andsetting the pendulously mounted contact in vibration to delay eil'ectiveclosure or the control circuit, and means responsive to self-operationoi the engine to deenergize the control circuit.

aromas closing the starting switch and setting the pendulously mountedcontact in vibration to delay eifective closure of the control circuit,and means for deenergizing the control circuit after a predeterminedtime oi'. cranking. I

6.'In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including a battery,a starting motor, a starting switch and a resistor for reducing thevoltage or the battery, a magnetic switch for bridging said resistor, acontrol circuit for the magnetic switch comprising contacts closed byclosure of the starting switch, and means responsive to self-operationof the engine to be started for deenergizing the control circuit.

7. In an engine starter control, a starting circuit including a battery,a starting motor, a starting switch and a resistor (or reducing thevoltage of the battery, a magnetic switch for bridging said resistor, acontrol circuit for the magnetic switch comprising contacts closed byclosure of the starting switch, and means for deenergizing the controlcircuit responsive to overloading of the starting circuit.

8. In combination with an engine starter including a battery, a startingmotor, and means responsive to energization of the starting motor forestablishing a driving connection from the starting motor to a member ofthe engine to be started, a two-stage starter'control therefor includinga starting switch, closure 01. which enerq gizes the starting motorsufliciently to establish said driving connection, a second switch,closure of which causes the full battery voltage to be applied to thestarting motor, said starting switch comprising a movable member, andmeans including a time delay actuating device operated by said movablemember for causing closure or the second switch a predetermined timeafter closure of the starting switch.

, KENNETH 1". DOUGLAS.

